Local woman among victims of West Nile

Published: Friday, January 10, 2014 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 10, 2014 at 11:39 p.m.

A cool spring caused a substantial decrease in West Nile virus cases in Louisiana, despite the death last week of a Houma woman.

There were 58 reported cases of West Nile virus in 2013 in Louisiana, 36 of which were the most serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. Six people, including Houma native Jacqueline Chauvin, died.

Chauvin died Wednesday after contracting the disease last September in Lafayette.

In 2012, Louisiana experienced its most active year for West Nile in 10 years. There were 397 reported cases of West Nile, including 160 neuroinvasive cases and 21 deaths.

Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes have only reported a total of five cases in the last five years, all during the 2012 season.

While most people never have any symptoms, about 10 percent of patients have fever and some get infections of the brain or spinal cord, which can lead to brain damage, paralysis or death. Twenty people last year reported fever and four had no symptoms.

“For every 100 that get affected by the virus, only one will get the neuroinvasive,” state epidemiologist Raoult Ratard said.

The amount of cases is related to the temperature in the spring. The higher the temperature, the higher the cases of West Nile.

Warmer temperatures encourage more activity by West Nile-carrying mosquitoes, which often bite birds that have migrated to the area.

“Mosquito, bird, mosquito, bird. After so many, it multiplies the amount of mosquitoes in the area,” Ratard said.

After birds begin to migrate back north — usually around mid-summer — the mosquitoes will bite humans and other land mammals.

“We start seeing human cases around mid-July,” Ratard said.

To prevent contracting the disease, Ratard said people should not invite the mosquito to be near them.

Install screens in windows and doorways, avoid having large amounts of water in your front or back yards and be careful of potted plants, a hot spot for mosquito mating.

To avoid bites, wear long sleeves and long pants and always use mosquito repellent.

Spring is from March 20 to June 21 and is expected to be warmer than normal in the southern U.S., according The Old Farmer's Almanac.

However, officials are warning residents to be prepared regardless of the temperatures this spring.

“It makes no difference to the person who gets West Nile if the season was mild or not,” Ratard said.

Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.

<p>A cool spring caused a substantial decrease in West Nile virus cases in Louisiana, despite the death last week of a Houma woman.</p><p>There were 58 reported cases of West Nile virus in 2013 in Louisiana, 36 of which were the most serious neuroinvasive form of the disease. Six people, including Houma native Jacqueline Chauvin, died. </p><p>Chauvin died Wednesday after contracting the disease last September in Lafayette.</p><p>In 2012, Louisiana experienced its most active year for West Nile in 10 years. There were 397 reported cases of West Nile, including 160 neuroinvasive cases and 21 deaths. </p><p>Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes have only reported a total of five cases in the last five years, all during the 2012 season. </p><p>While most people never have any symptoms, about 10 percent of patients have fever and some get infections of the brain or spinal cord, which can lead to brain damage, paralysis or death. Twenty people last year reported fever and four had no symptoms.</p><p>“For every 100 that get affected by the virus, only one will get the neuroinvasive,” state epidemiologist Raoult Ratard said. </p><p>The amount of cases is related to the temperature in the spring. The higher the temperature, the higher the cases of West Nile. </p><p>Warmer temperatures encourage more activity by West Nile-carrying mosquitoes, which often bite birds that have migrated to the area. </p><p>“Mosquito, bird, mosquito, bird. After so many, it multiplies the amount of mosquitoes in the area,” Ratard said. </p><p>After birds begin to migrate back north — usually around mid-summer — the mosquitoes will bite humans and other land mammals. </p><p>“We start seeing human cases around mid-July,” Ratard said. </p><p>To prevent contracting the disease, Ratard said people should not invite the mosquito to be near them. </p><p>Install screens in windows and doorways, avoid having large amounts of water in your front or back yards and be careful of potted plants, a hot spot for mosquito mating. </p><p>To avoid bites, wear long sleeves and long pants and always use mosquito repellent. </p><p>Spring is from March 20 to June 21 and is expected to be warmer than normal in the southern U.S., according The Old Farmer's Almanac. </p><p>However, officials are warning residents to be prepared regardless of the temperatures this spring. </p><p>“It makes no difference to the person who gets West Nile if the season was mild or not,” Ratard said. </p><p>Staff Writer Jacob Batte can be reached at 448-7635 or jacob.batte@dailycomet.com.</p>